Some of you who read my blog (I do like to think that you do exist, and not just in my head) may recall that a year or so ago I recounted the story of how my lovely dentist was able to save one of my teeth from complete extinction and by the use of most of the available amalgam in Suffolk managed to create the illusion that there was still a tooth there, even though most of it was filling. Suffice it to say I was ecstatic at not having to lose the tooth completely.

Well, dear readers, I suppose that the writing was on the wall and it was only a matter of time before the tooth would completely give up the ghost, and it was whilst chomping on a hard-centre the other day, that I noticed that one bit of this confection seemed to be particularly hard, and found that the remaining actual bit of tooth had come out.

I had to admit it that I knew, this time, that even my clever dentist would be unable to patch this one up and so yesterday – as I still had the remainder of the tooth resting in the gum – he persuaded me to have a flat filling. This will make it easier, if I ever have the money to afford a dental implant, for this to be fitted. 

For now, however, there is a gap in my teeth. Its not so bad, and doesn’t seem to show to much as it is near the back, but nevertheless it does feel slightly strange and my tongue keeps wandering to the gap. There is also the slightly weird feeling of not being symetrical, tooth-wise and therefore a little bit unbalanced. One almost feels as if it would feel better to have the tooth taken out from the other side to match.

But really I thought that I would be much more bothered about it, and I’m not.

I have been captivated by the Paralympics, and was watching the swimming last night, totally inspired by these wonderful inspirational athletes. They have had to adjust to bits of their bodies no longer being there but seem to achieve so much in spite of this, or perhaps, as they themselves have explained, because of  it. So, what does it matter if I’m missing a tooth, for heaven sake?

The human capacity to adjust in the face of illness, accident or misfortune never ceases to humble or amaze me, it is that spirit of ‘just getting on with it’ and finding their own way to triumph over – what appears to us – the most horrific injuries and disabilities. But I do also realise that what these wonderful people are looking for is not pity, praise or even understanding, but merely an acceptance of their difference as just that, no more or less and to have exactly the same opportunities as everyone else.

Enjoy the Paralympics everyone,

Wendy x